Spurs assume they have a good chance of resigning Kirilenko after he opts out at the end of the year. This makes them dangerous and frees up a roster spot

Wolves face the reality that AK is going to opt out at the end of the year and that their chances of retaining him are slim. They get a SF for the rest of the year in Jackson, a backup big in Blair, and 2 firsts.

It works for SAS. I think it's a wait for the deadline deal for MIN. I am not sure that SAS will need to pony up two 1sts. One might do the trick - all they are really buying is trading expirings (Blair, Jackson) for (effectively) expiring AK. On first for what amounts to a 3 month rental of AK (AK hasn't been under contract long enough for SAS to get his Bird rights) is probably a more likely price point. I'm not sure I see another team competing with SAS to drive the price of AK up...who else would be strongly interested and have $10 million in expirings?

I truly doubt AK opts out unless he and Minny agree on a mulityear deal first. Hard to imagine he finds a better deal out there. Slim chance anybody with cap space gives him more than the MLE and I doubt anybody wants to give him 3 years. I think he plays out the 2nd year or creates a little more room for Minny to resign Pek/make other moves by redoing his deal to like 2/17 or something.

Malcolm Forbes wrote:Too many people overvalue what they're not and undervalue what they are.

Texas Chuck wrote:I truly doubt AK opts out unless he and Minny agree on a mulityear deal first. Hard to imagine he finds a better deal out there. Slim chance anybody with cap space gives him more than the MLE and I doubt anybody wants to give him 3 years. I think he plays out the 2nd year or creates a little more room for Minny to resign Pek/make other moves by redoing his deal to like 2/17 or something.

I'm pretty sure he'd find someone willing to offer $30m/3 years. He's been MIN's MVP. According to theNBAgeek.com, he's been the 7th best wp/48 (not including players with less than 150 min)...and he's playing decent minutes.

I really doubt he opts out. Like others have said. If he is opting out its to extend for longer at a similar price for longer. I don't see the point for Minnesota unless that second 1st is during a year where Duncan and Manu retire. Otherwise these are two late firsts and expirings for the Wolves best player this season. Thanks, but no thanks.

pad300 wrote:I'm pretty sure he'd find someone willing to offer $30m/3 years. He's been MIN's MVP. According to theNBAgeek.com, he's been the 7th best wp/48 (not including players with less than 150 min)...and he's playing decent minutes.

Im not questioning how well he's played this season, but he will be nearly 33 when next season starts.

Malcolm Forbes wrote:Too many people overvalue what they're not and undervalue what they are.

I doubt they give up that much on Kirilenko unless they like him as a starting material PF.

As for the picks, it depends on the protection. The 2013 pick will be a late one, but we don't know about the 2015 pick. Manu and Timmy could simply retire after next season and that pick would be really important for SAS rebuilding process. I find it hard to believe SA would include that pick tbh.

Jack + Blair + 2013 pick I would do it. Still, Minny has no reason to do it considering how well Kirilenko has been playing.

Shaq on Duncan:SA won because of TD, a guy I could never break.I could talk trash to Ewing, get in D-Rob's face, get a rise out of Mourning,but when I went at Tim he’d look at me like he was bored and say:“Hey,Shaq, watch this shot right off the glass.”

A few days ago, I would say that this deal wouldn't fly, because the Wolves were all-in on making the play-offs, all through the organization.

However, after the Clippers game where both Pekovic and Shved got injured, I think even the front office has to consider throwing in the white towel for 2013. They don't have a back-up center. After four guys have gotten knocked out with major knee surgery, they don't have a back-up SG either. Rubio may make some players better, but I see no way they can win a game against an NBA team in at least the next 7-10 days. To me, I think Kahn's comments yesterday (reprinted in WireTap) show that we may be looking at a change of direction.

Kirilenko has been tremendous for the Wolves - the MVP of the season. He seems to love it here as well, and plays full out, with a smile on his face, all the time. From attitude alone, he'd be a nice guy to keep, especially since the wolves are invested in Shved. I don't have concerns about him opting out of his $10.2 mil deal next year to go elsewhere - I imagine though he'd go for a three-year, $24 mil new contract.

However, I think this is a legitimate offer from the Spurs, and I think he's earned the right to try to get a ring. The value is in the latter 1st, and it's possible it could be a good pick .. although you never want to bet against the Spurs. Maybe they could make this offer, and agree to make the pick for the Wolves too?

Williams really needs to find a niche on another team if he is already considered a guy to give up on.

It is illogical to use logic on an illogical person.Solution...use even more illogical logic to trump their logic.Things I have learned on the general board this week The Spurs are semi tanking and aren't interesting in repeating.

franktony wrote:I doubt they give up that much on Kirilenko unless they like him as a starting material PF.

As for the picks, it depends on the protection. The 2013 pick will be a late one, but we don't know about the 2015 pick. Manu and Timmy could simply retire after next season and that pick would be really important for SAS rebuilding process. I find it hard to believe SA would include that pick tbh.

Jack + Blair + 2013 pick I would do it. Still, Minny has no reason to do it considering how well Kirilenko has been playing.

I look at him as starting PF and insurance that Splitter doesn't get too expensive. If we retain Splitter with him then he would be back up SF and PF(maybe start and make Splitter back up both PF/C). Diaw would get whatever minutes are left over.

Imagine a line up of TP / Leonard/AK / Splitter / Duncan when we want to play big.

I think the second pick is needed because I don't think the 2013 pick has any real value.